A QUIET dinner together with Tori's sister and father was what she enjoyed the most, especially after the commotion that morning. Tori knew her father would interrogate her for two things. Rowan's arrival and the unrest caused her to faint. After all, her mother fainted from time to time since the late Duchess was sickly.
If she would take advantage of the fact that the Duke loved her mother, then the fainting earlier was necessary to control her father.
"Victoria, I heard from Butler Johannes that you fainted while distributing your dresses to the servants." The Duke's tone was indifferent, but she could detect the edge. He was blaming the servants for her fainting. It meant that the one who supplied him with the unnecessary information was his dearest, Sabina.
Tori glanced at the wench who was eating peacefully before her. So this is your retaliation, huh? You will make it seem like I created a stir and fainted with my doing.
"Yes, father. I fainted from shock."
"I thought you changed for the better, Victoria? What's all this about, huh?" His voice boomed. Tori did not falter nor flinched.
I don't need to defend myself anymore because they will do it for me.
Together with the chef, all the kitchen servants kneeled in front of them, which shocked the Duke and Sabina. Though Victoria had to act surprised as well, she expected this. This was the reason she bowed her head earlier, after all.
"Punish us instead, Your Grace! Please!"
"Lady Victoria showed us benevolence like no other!"
"Lady Victoria is like the late Duchess Camila who showed us goodwill!"
"Please, Your Grace!"
The entire time, Tori was happily watching the wretched Sabina, who was biting her lips from her controlled anger. She was also gripping her utensils rather firmly.
Careful, Sabina. You're showing your horns much earlier than expected. You can't, though, because you will entertain me more from now on.
"Johannes?" The Duke asked for his trusted butler's opinion. He looked torn by the mere mention of the late Duchess.
"Yes, Your Grace?" He stepped forward near the Duke, who was now sitting at the head table beside Tori and Sabina.
"What happened?"
"Lady Victoria asked for forgiveness for behaving oddly for the past two years. She gave each manor servant a dress to show how serious she was. Lady Victoria showed nothing but pure goodwill that touched every servant of this manor, including me and the head maid Teresa, Your Grace."
How's that, Sabina? Tori's expression, which was only visible to Sabina, was smug.
As long as Johannes and Teresa view me positively, my father will always believe me in the future.
"Then why did she faint, Johannes?" The edge was long gone, but it replaced the pure worry instead.
That's the question that you should ask first, father. Now, how will you react, Saintly Sabina?
Sabina considerably paled; hence Tori wanted to snicker.
Johannes uncomfortably shifted his gaze towards Sabina, who was now looking sour and grim.
"Speak, Johannes."
"Father, please don't pressure Johannes. Earlier, I was just a little flustered since I was... rejected. I knew I was a little emotional. I mean, I couldn't blame my dear sister Sabina for not believing my actions after I did to her. But I'm okay now, father, I promise."
For the first time since this wench entered this manor, our father raised his voice towards Sabina. It was a sight to behold. Tori wanted to snicker. If only she weren't trying to look sad. In contrast, the wench was bowing her head to hide her anger toward me.
"Your commoner's blood is much stronger than I thought. A noble lady should know when to accept apologies, but you are prideful. Now it resulted in Victoria's fainting. I will inform you now again since you forgot. Victoria is like my Camila, she's fragile, and you have to protect her."
"Understood, father. I am sorry, Sister Victoria." Sabina's voice was weak, but the hidden poison behind her greedy eyes was clear for Tori.
It is the start of my many victories, Sabina dear.
"All is solved now. You don't need to be sad anymore, sister. My joy is only to be closer to you." Tori stood up to reach out for Sabina's hand.
"From now on, Victoria, you must be careful. You have an uncanny resemblance to your mother, I tell you." His voice expressed how he worried about Tori and missed the late Duchess. The kneeling servants were back to their posts as the first concern of Tori's father was done addressing.
"Yes, father. Uhm, Father, won't you ask me about the boy I brought home the other day?" Tori opened the topic in front of everyone for her later purpose.
By setting a deception for everyone, Tori's cutting off a means for Sabina to use Rowan to Tori's disadvantage. That's why she needed to put things here with everyone.
"Yes. I wanted to hear your reason why you sheltered a boy from your shopping stroll."
Tori knew the knight didn't inform her father of the bag of gold coins she bribed him. Her father learned that she helped the boy from being chased down by human traffickers.
With a voice and face of utter sadness and worry, Tori faced her father. Her father sees her as a weak girl. "Pardon my impudence for bringing someone from the streets, father. But I didn't know why I couldn't turn a blind eye to him. I saw how he bravely fought those criminals, and I saw the passion of a knight. I knew I wanted him to be my bodyguard from that moment on. But of course, he needs to be knighted by you to be one."
Her father's serious face stared at her, which she equally returned. She wanted him to know that she was as serious as him. Her father didn't reply, so Tori continued to speak the words that would make her father agree to her wishes.
"Mother once told me, father. That a wise leader doesn't need to excel in everything but to have a keen eye to judge character and talent."
With the mention of her mother, her father's resolve would soften. And her words were spoken by the king towards the Duke of Rozenreff when they were young. These words left a positive mark on the Duke. They revealed this information during Season 3, a few days before Victoria's execution. The Duke coldly spoke these words to her daughter, whom he saw as far from a leader.
But not now. Father, I will be the only heir of this Duchy. Once you agree to this, it is like deciding that I am the perfect heir to the Duchy. But you aren't thinking of Sabina's feelings anymore, right? Since I spoke of the words that made you vow to the king to be a loyal subject to him. Are you seeing the king in me, father? I am not the king.
I will be better than him, father.
"Spoken like a genuine leader. I am proud of the changes in you, Victoria. You matured. I am glad and at ease. Well, then. Johannes will handle that boy for the time being until he's healthy enough to move to the knights' cabin to begin his training."
"Thank you, father!"
Everyone was glad for Tori except those in Sabina's faction.
"I am happy for you, Sister Victoria."
I am happy to put you in place too, dearest sister of mine.
Tori smiled gently at Sabina.